Go easy on the "Jesus talk"

I was reading a blog today, by Dave Brown, on the NCMM web site about Tim Tebow.

The link is below.

http://ncmm.org/tebow-warner-plummer-and-jesus-talk/

It seems two Christian quarterbacks think that Mr. Tebow should stop talking about and praising God.

I was led by the Holy Spirit to comment on that blog. While my comment was inspired by Dave Brown's blog, it fits in with things I have heard a few Christians say about other Christians.

Below is my comment:

The Bible tells us to follow Jesus, to emulate Him, be like Him. So how did Jesus do it?
Jesus spoke to the people about salvation, He gave glory to the Father, and Jesus lived the Holy lifestyle.

• To tell people the “Good News”, then remove ourselves from this “evil” world and go home or to church and study God’s word does not seem to match what Jesus did.

• To only speak of God (praising Him) when something good has happened to us, and then continue on our way does not seem to match what Jesus did.

• To say we should only let our actions show we are Christians, and speak the Gospel only if / or when we are questioned does not seem to match what Jesus did.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit we all have the ability to do all these things. As different parts of the same body each of us is stronger in some of these areas than in others.

In the case of Tim Tebow, I believe he is listening to the Holy Spirit. He is sharing the “Good News”, giving all the glory to God the Father, and as far as I can tell, living a Christian life style.

A final thought. All true Christians should be thankful to our Father in Heaven that the media is actually focusing on a true believer this time and not someone who is a Christian in name, but not in word and deed.

All for the glory of God

My Way/God's Way

Are your men experiencing rest and peace or restlessness and dissatisfaction?

St Augustine said; "My heart will be restless until I find my rest in Thee."

That rest comes from the confident assurance that God truly is working out all things for your good.

(Patrick Morley-Equipping The Man In The Mirror, March 18)

That would mean giving up control...

• The amount of control we give away is directly proportional to the amount of trust we have in who we are giving it to.
• Trust is built through relationships.
• Relationships come from knowing someone.
• How do we come to know Jesus?
• His Word and the working of the Holy Spirit!

The more time we spend studying Bible, the more rest and peace we will have, even during challenging times.

Jesus, Martin Luther, Today’s Men’s Discipleship Leader.

I can't think of any other time in history where there were so many ways to communicate. As men, called by our Lord Jesus to disciple men, it is our task to communicate the Gospel to as many men as possible. But not all men communicate the same way.

Face-to-face; hand-written "snail mail"; phone; email; texting; instant messaging; social media. Our challenge is how we use these media to get the Good News to men. The men we are trying to reach are using one or more of the above; we need to use them all.

Some of us are completely resisting the new ways of communicating, using only the phone or face-to-face (writing letters was never a strong suit for us men). Some of us are way to connected to our "tech toys", stressing when our smart phone battery dies or we are stuck where there is no internet available.

Here are my thoughts on the effective use of all the current methods of reaching men:

1. Use social media (Twitter, Facebook, websites, etc) to get a message to lot of men when a respone is not needed.
2. If a response is not needed for a week or more, suprise them with a hand-written letter. I think it would be nice to receive mail that was not a bill or junk mail.**
3. If a response is needed in 48 to 72 hours, send an email.**
4. If 24 hours is your limit, phone, text, or instant message, depending on the recipient's technology level.
5. Face-to-face always has the most impact.

** I feel it is critical to follow up #2 and #3 with a phone call, if for no other reason than to let them know you sent something.

Remember Jesus used the most effective form of communication of the time, town-to-town, face-to-face. Martin Luther used the newest technology to spread God's Word, the printing press. Now it is our turn. If you don't know how to use one or more of these media you should learn. You do not have to be a wiz kid or have the newest an most expensive, just know how and when to use what.

Technology is not evil, it is a tool. The enemy is using it to its fullest. We need to use it to its fullest to grow the Kingdom of God, while bringing glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Step out and trust the Lord. His word will not come back void, see Isaiah 55:11, it will fulfill His purpose regardless of which method(s) we use, but we need to be heard!

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I command you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

Together with you in the battle for men's souls,

Bill

Fire & Trust

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10

In today’s lesson from Equipping the Man In The Mirror, Pat Morley talks about the refining process that God puts us through. Pat reminds us that the refining process that precious metals go through removes the impurities. Our God works the same way. The Bible talks about this in several places including in James 1:2-4: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Applying the heat.

Over the past couple of years I was in a situation that made me angry and bitter. I prayed often for the situation to change, yet day after day it continued. My only refuge seemed to be when I was at home or at church.

Removing the impurities.

As I look back on the events during that time I can see the Lord “skimming the impurities” from me. On a regular basis Jesus would send witnesses to me to comfort me and remind me who was in control. During that time I also witnessed to the grace of God to those who were in much worse situations than I was.

The next step.

At just the right time He removed me from that furnace. On January 3, 2011 I was laid off from my primary job. My response? “OK Lord, I trust you. I know you will take care of my family and me.” I have put my trust 100% on my Lord and Savior Jesus. He is faithful. There are several employment opportunities in the works. I can also see the foundation He has been laying over the last year.

I am still not sure of the new direction Jesus is leading me, I am sure it will continue to remove the impurities from me. I know I will struggle (I am still on this earth), but Jesus has again removed the doubt that His enemies have planted in my sinful mind.

Lord Jesus, I am your eyes, your hands, your feet, and mouth piece. Send me!

When something in our life goes is a bad direction, how do you respond?

Please let us know.

All for the glory of God